Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo said that he is ready to have a meeting with President-elect Maia Sandu and to furnish her with comprehensive information about the work done by the prosecution service. “I’m sure that Missis President’s opinion will change and I hope we will be heard,” he stated. The reaction comes after Maia Sandu in a news conference said that not many good things can be said about the work done by the current prosecutor general after a year of his appointment, IPN reports.
Alexandr Stoianoglo said the investigation of the banking fraud was the main challenge for the prosecution service and the whole law enforcement system the past year. From the very beginning, the investigations were intentionally misaimed, being formal and attentively mimicked so as not to affect the interests of the real architects and beneficiaries of the fraud. Such actions were taken by the prosecutors who were removed a year ago. Whole episodes were falsified and tens of persons were illegally held accountable, with some of them serving their sentences.
As a result of inquiries, it was determined that Vladimir Plahotniuc was the main coordinator and beneficiary of the banking fraud. He was charged on a number of counts. A warrant for his arrest was issued and he is wanted. Actions were taken to confiscate property owned by him in the country and abroad. The investigation into the involvement of a commercial bank and its former managers in the fraud was completed. Until now this bank wasn’t featured in the investigations in this case even if over 2 million lei was ultimately stolen with the involvement of this bank, stated Alexandr Stoianoglo.
He noted that the administration of the National Bank of Moldova was charged as this Bank played a key role in the billion theft, ensuring legal counseling throughout the process. There are investigated companies and persons who in 2009 – 2011 withdrew tens of millions of dollars from Banca de Economii by fraud and also the redistribution of the financial resources that were released by the National Bank and transferred to accounts of companies affiliated to Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor. None of the aforementioned episodes were investigated earlier, being intentionally hidden or were investigated formally. The coming year will be decisive as the denouement of the whole scheme is to become known.
As to the invitation to present a report in Parliament, Alexandr Stoianoglo said that information about the billion theft is periodically furnished. “Half a year ago, I was questioned by the security commission, which assessed the prosecutors’ work to investigate the banking fraud as good. On the other hand, we do not want to take part in political shows staged by political forces in Parliament. We are cooperative and are ready to provide any information in accordance with the law,” stated Stoianoglo, noting that there is a specialized commission that can examine the information in a limited format. He assured that he has what to present, now more than ever.
The prosecutor general also said that the level of corruption among prosecutors decreased considerably as the involvement of prosecutors in business was excluded, businessmen stopped to be arrested and investigated and this also diminished the risks of corruption. The prosecutors stopped to deal with the recovery of debts. “The fact that corruption among prosecutors diminished is confirmed by lawyers, judges and representatives of the business community,” stated Alexandr Stoianoglo.
